19 Proven Health Benefits of Avocado Nutrition

The top health benefits of avocado include its ability to boost heart health, improve digestion, prevent cancer, enhance liver health, and help in weight management. Avocado also helps keep the eyes healthy due to its high lutein content and protects the skin from signs of aging. It is a rich source of good fats, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytosterols.

According to a recent research study, avocado seeds are used for the treatment of diabetes, inflammatory conditions, and hypertension, as well as for improving hypercholesterolemia. It comes in the form of organic avocado seed powder and supplements which can be added to soups, smoothies, and drinks. Another research study shows that consumption of avocado leads to improved diet quality and nutrient intake, including a lowered risk of metabolic syndrome.

What is Avocado?

Avocado is a pear-shaped fruit with a rich creamy flavor. It has gained attention in health circles due to its high level of good fat content and extremely low level of cholesterol. Avocados are available in many varieties, but the most popular of all is the creamy Hass variety.

Avocados are also known as Alligator Pears, which is mainly due to their shape and the leathery appearance of their skin. The edible portion of the avocado is the creamy flesh within, which is light-green in color, and not sweet in taste. It is usually eaten raw, as a dessert whip, or in the form of salads with little pepper and salt. The most popular use of avocados is in the form of guacamole, a traditional Mexican and Central American dip that is also good as a topping on hamburgers and sandwiches.

Many people tend to stop eating avocado due to its high-calorie content, thinking that it may add to their weight. However, it contains fewer calories when compared to butter and other high-calorie dietary items. You may use avocado oil for baking as a replacement for fat content (butter or oil) or try avocado oil mayonnaise in sandwiches. Much of its fat content comes from unique sources, like phytosterols, which are beneficial for health. This article discusses the various health benefits of avocado and its nutritional content.

Avocado Nutrition

Avocados are considered a “superfood” and are rich in various nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. They are also a good source of monounsaturated fatty acids. According to CAC (California Avocado Commission), a medium-sized California Hass avocado contains almost 22.5 grams fat. Two-thirds of this fat is of the monounsaturated variety, and they are also very low in fructose. Perhaps most importantly, avocados have a unique collection of organic compounds like phytosterols, carotenoids, and flavonoids.

Health Benefits of Avocado

Avocados are most beneficial when eaten raw. Many of the well-researched and important health benefits of avocados are as follows:

Promotes Healthy Heart

Beta-sitosterol, which is found in avocados, helps maintain healthycholesterol levels. Research studies showed that laboratory rats who were given avocado for 5 weeks as a part of their daily meal had about 27% lower triglycerides plasma levels and their HDL cholesterol was 17% higher as compared to a control group who did not have avocado. This is why eating avocados daily can help in protecting the heart from atherosclerosis.

High in Potassium

The significant levels of potassium make avocados a powerful fruit in the fight against hypertension. According to a research published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, potassium-rich foods can reduce pathogenic vascular calcification, which is the hardening of arteries. Dr. Paul Sanders from the University of Alabama at Birmingham led the research which concluded that eating potassium-rich foods like avocados and bananas reduces the tension of blood vessels and arteries, regulating blood pressure. This, in turn, reduces the chances of clotting, heart attacks, and strokes.

Aids in Digestion

Avocados are soothing for the intestine and aid in digestion. They contain soluble and insoluble fibers that help to keep the digestive system running smoothly. These types of fiber are very important for digestion because they bulk up stools and help ensure the smooth passage of food through the intestinal tract. Furthermore, they stimulate gastric and digestive juices so nutrients are absorbed in the most efficient and rapid way. Finally, they reduce the symptoms from conditions like constipation and diarrhea. All in all, the huge amount of fiber found in avocados (40% of daily requirement per serving) makes this a very important food for optimizing your digestive health.

Improves Vision

Avocados help keep your eyes healthy. They contain carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin, which help to protect your eyes against cataracts, eye diseases related to age, and macular degeneration. These conditions are often caused by free radicals that accumulate in the tissues of the eyes. The antioxidant activity of these special carotenoids in avocados neutralize the effects of those dangerous free radicals.

Skin and Hair Care

Avocados are packed with nutrients that are beneficial for maintaining healthy skin. It enriches skin that is dry, chapped or damaged. They are added to a variety of cosmetics due to their ability to nourish the skin with essential vitamins and make it glow. It is also used for nourishing dry and damaged hair.

Many people use avocados to prepare skin and hair masks. Above all, avocado oil helps in treating plaque psoriasis. Beta-carotene and lycopene are two organic compounds found in large quantities in avocados. Both of these have been connected to improving the health and tone of your skin and eliminating signs of premature aging.

Treats Arthritis

The anti-inflammatory properties of avocados are perhaps its most valuable attribute. Between the wide range of phytochemicals, flavonoids, carotenoids, phytosterols, fatty alcohols, and omega-3 fatty acids it contains, avocados are one of the best foods for reducing the inflammation in tissues, joints, and muscles. A research study led by Dr. Blaine Christiansen, UC Davis Health, showed that 300 mg of avocado and soybean-based nutritional supplement appears to be beneficial for patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis.

Prevents Bad Breath

Consumption of avocados also helps in preventing bad breath, which is primarily caused due to indigestion or an upset stomach. Halitosis can be eliminated by improving digestive health, and the antibacterial and antioxidant flavonoids found in avocados also kill the bacteria in your mouth that can result in bad breath. Avocados have also been connected with preventing oral cancers!

Liver Care

Avocados are very good at reducing liver damage. It has certain organic compounds that help in improving liver health. Liver damage is normally caused due to Hepatitis C. Findings of a recent research study suggest that avocados may play a major role in toning up and protecting your liver from a wide variety of conditions.

Kidney Health

Diet plays a very important role in maintaining the balance of minerals and fluids in those who suffer from chronic kidney disorders. Potassium is one of the minerals that help in maintaining a normalheart rate. Avocados are a good source of potassium and their inclusion in your diet may provide other benefits as well. It is important to make sure that potassium levels are not too high as that can also be dangerous for the heart. Potassium is a key aspect of maintaining fluid balance through chemical channels for cells and organs. This balance of fluid is also vital for the functioning of the kidney, which handles the movement of fluid and toxins through the body.

Vitamin K Deficiency

A vitamin Kdeficiency is not very common but is frequently seen in neonatal care. It may lead to a bleeding disorder known as vitamin K deficiency-related bleeding (VKDB). This occurs mostly due to an insufficient intake of vitamin K during pregnancy. The inclusion of avocado in the diet of a pregnant woman may help in lowering risk of VKDB in the newborn child since avocados are one of the rare fruits that have a very high amount of vitamin K (almost 40% of the daily requirement in a single serving!)

Morning Sickness

During pregnancy, morning sickness is very common. Avocados help overcome nausea and queasiness during pregnancy since it contains vitamin B6, which is commonly connected to reducing nausea and vomiting.

Anti-cancer Properties

Health benefits of avocados include a lower risk of cancer, including breast cancer and prostate cancer. Avocado contains carotenoids and monounsaturated fat, both of which contribute to the significant reduction of cancer. Avocado also contains glutathione, an antioxidant that protects the cells from cancer and the dangerous effects of free radicals. The list of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds in avocados is impressive, and it is almost difficult to determine which one has the largest impact. Studies have been widely done on oral, skin, and prostate cancers, and the results show that instead of metastasizing, the organic compounds in avocados cause cancerous cells to undergo apoptosis (automatic cell death). Research is still ongoing on the relationship between avocados and cancer.

Antioxidant Properties

Avocado contains both vitamin C and E, which help enhance the antioxidant properties of the human body. Vitamin C recycles vitamin E and helps reduce the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Avocado also contains antioxidants like epicatechin, violaxanthin, neochrome, and about a dozen others. Antioxidants neutralize the effects of free radicals, the dangerous byproducts of cellular metabolism. They are responsible for dozens of serious conditions in the body, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, vision problems, premature aging, cognitive disorders, and many more.

Healthy Skin

Avocados contain many vitamins and minerals that help in maintaining healthy skin. Carotenoids found in avocados are associated with reducing UV-induced inflammation of the skin due to exposure to the sun. Pure avocado oil helps in protecting the skin against sunburn damage. The high levels of beta-carotene in avocados can be enzymatically split into provitamin A, which has long been connected to protecting the skin from a variety of conditions and the damaging effects of the sun.

Anti-aging

Consuming avocados and applying pure moisturizing avocado oil to the skin is also associated with healthy aging. It contains compounds such as lutein and zeaxanthin, which has antioxidant properties. Research studies by Dr. Richard L. Roberts et al. show that lutein and zeaxanthin may decrease signs of the aging process by protecting the skin from damage from both, UV rays and radiation.

Strengthens Bones

Avocados contain zeaxanthin and lutein, which are associated with a reduced risk of cartilage defects, which is the symptom of osteoarthritis. Furthermore, the levels of essential minerals in avocados are significant, including zinc, phosphorous, copper, and trace amounts of calcium and selenium. All of these are connected to lowered risks of osteoporosis and improvements in bone mineral density.

Nutrient Absorption

Avocados are best eaten along with other fruits and vegetables. According to a research study by Ohio State University, the fat in avocado helps the body absorb carotenoids such as beta-carotene and converts them to vitamin A. Lead researcher Dr. Rachel Kopec, in the study, found that the absorption of carotenoid antioxidant molecules, which helps protect the body against free radical damage, increases three to five times when a salad is eaten along with avocado. Therefore, adding sliced avocado to a mixed salad is a good way to make a healthy meal even better. This makes avocado a great element as an appetizer since it prepares the digestive tract to function at its highest level during the meal to come!

Blood Glucose Level

Apart from the fruit, the leaf extracts of avocados also provide health benefits. A study conducted on non-diabetic and diabetic rats suggest that the leaf extracts may help in lowering blood glucose levels. For diabetic patients, the metabolism of starch-based foods into simple sugars like glucose can cause the spikes and plunges that are dangerous for diabetics. Fiber helps to slow the breakdown of food into usable sugars, so it is absorbed by the body in a more balanced way. Furthermore, the majority of carbohydrates in avocados are made up of 7-carbon sugars, a relatively rare form of sugar that actually inhibit the enzyme, hexokinase. This helps avocados control the way that glucose is metabolized by the body, thereby protecting the overall health of diabetic patients.

Useful for Athletes

Athletes require a lot of energy and must maintain optimal nutrition to fuel their body. Avocado provides vital nutrients to athletes to maintain required energy levels and good health. Moreover, they contain phytochemicals that are a natural fuel source for your body.

Improved Cognitive Function

Avocados can help improve the cognitive function in healthy older people by increasing the lutein content in the body. According to a 2017 study done by Tufts University, having a fresh avocado a day showed increased lutein levels in the brains and eyes of healthy older adults, which in turn enhanced their memory and problem-solving skills. Lutein is a carotenoid found in fruits and vegetables which has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Side Effects of Avocado

Care must be taken and consumption of avocado should be avoided if these symptoms are experienced.

How to Select and Store Avocado?

Fresh, ripe avocados with no dark spots should be chosen. Do not refrigerate avocados unless they are ripe. If a portion of the fruit has been used then the remainder may be stored in the refrigerator for future use. Unripe avocados can be stored at room temperature.

Quick Serving Ideas

Guacamole: Mix chopped onion, tomato, lettuce and avocado in a bowl. Add salt, pepper, lime juice, and drizzle olive oil over the salad. Fresh avocado guacamole can be added as a topping on your meats and fish too.

Dressing: They can be used for dressing food preparations of your choice and can be sliced perfectly with avocado slicers available in the market.

Due to its various health benefits, this fruit is now grown in several countries. It has a thick skin that protects it from pesticides. According to the EWG’s analysis of tests by the US Department of Agriculture, avocados showed no detectable pesticides. This is the reason you may not need to buy organic avocados; it is one of the safest crops in terms of its low exposure to pesticides.

Avocado FAQs

Is avocado a fruit?

Yes, avocado is a fruit; although technically, it is a berry. Also known by the name of ‘Alligator Pear’ (a reference to its dark, rough outer skin), avocados are rich in healthy fats and are popular in many cuisines all over the world. They have numerous health benefits, both as a food and as an addition to natural skincare products.

Are avocados good for you?

Avocados are great for your health when incorporated into a balanced and healthy diet. They are rich in vitamins and minerals and are full of ‘healthy’ fats, which help keep you feeling full for longer. Avocados can be a great natural or vegan substitute for products like butter and margarine.

Is avocado a fruit or a vegetable?

Avocado is a fruit, not a vegetable but technically, it’s a type of berry. Avocados lack sweetness, which is perhaps where this confusion comes from. However, its lack of sweetness combined with its rich, creamy texture makes it a very versatile food – you can use it in any number of sweet or savory recipes.

Are avocados healthy?

Avocados are very healthy! They contain healthy fats, which your body needs. Just be aware that they are usually high in calories because they are fatty. Make sure you keep track of how much you consume; it can even be helpful to use avocado in place of less healthy fats, such as butter or margarine.

Are avocados bad for you?

Avocados are not bad for your health – in fact, they contain many vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats that your body needs to function optimally. Their high-fat content, however, does make them energy-dense or ‘calorific’ – this means that you need to be aware of how much you consume, as is true for any fatty product you may often enjoy.

How many calories does an avocado have?

100g of avocado flesh contains around 160 calories. Avocados differ in size, and so the exact calorie content you take in will, of course, depend on how much of your avocado you choose to eat. Avocados are calorie-dense because of their fat content; however, these are healthy fats, and in moderation are really beneficial to your body.

Where do avocados come from?

Avocados originate from Mexico, where they are part of traditional recipes (such as the ubiquitous guacamole) that are popular around the world for their deliciousness and health benefits. Avocado trees need tropical or subtropical temperatures to thrive, and so are also found in other parts of the world with such climates, including India and some African countries.

Avocado trees grow well in tropical, sub-tropical and equatorial areas, but like so many other fruits, the cultivation of avocados is the easiest in the Mediterranean climate. That being said, avocados originated in the state of Puebla, Mexico, where evidence in caves dates back to at least 10,000 B.C. Ancient Central American and South American cultures were known to use wild avocados, but it is unclear if cultivation began until the last few thousand years. It only appeared in other parts of the world in the last 500 years but has quickly gained popularity for its unique appearance, taste, and health benefits.

The fruit typically grows on the Persea Americana tree, which is an evergreen tree from the Lauraceae family. Although it doesn’t resemble these relatives, avocados are closely related to cinnamon and bay laurel. It is usually tall and can grow up to a height of 65 feet. The approximate weight of avocados is between eight ounces and three pounds, depending on the variety of avocado. It is harvested early and then allowed to ripen gradually when it is sold commercially. This is why avocados are called climacteric fruits, which only ripen after harvesting, just like bananas.

Meenakshi Nagdeve is a health and wellness enthusiast and started working on Organic Facts since 2012 and is currently responsible for managing it. She follows naturopathy and believes in healing with foods. She is currently pursuing Nutrition And Healthy Living Cornell Certificate Program, Cornell University. She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from IIM Bangalore and B. Tech in Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science from IIT Bombay. Prior to this, she worked for a few years in IT and Financial services. In her free time, she loves to travel and taste different types of teas.